Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. (CXM) and the Nutraceut

Cardium Therapeutics, Inc. (CXM) and the Nutraceutical Advantage

The people of Cardium Therapeutics, a San Diego based health sciences and regenerative medicine company, have a good understanding of the complexities, time, and expense involved to bring a new drug to market. It’s a process they’ve been successful in navigating with their two lead products, Generx, a DNA-based angiogenic growth factor therapeutic used to stimulate the growth of blood vessels in heart patients, and Excellagen, a new FDA-cleared highly-refined fibrillar collagen-based topical gel for the management of diabetic ulcers and other wounds. So it hasn’t been lost on the company that there is an explosively growing area of health enhancement with the potential of generating billion dollar products, and with none of the extensive regulatory and other hurdles that are a fundamental part of the pharmaceutical industry.

It’s the world of nutraceuticals, food products designed to provide various health and medical benefits, but which are not subject to the endless testing and regulatory restrictions required for pharmaceutical drugs. Cardium saw the trend early and has its own line of nutraceuticals already well established. MedPodium is a portfolio of premium, science-based, easy to use nutraceuticals, metabolics, and aesthetics designed to promote health and well-being for active professionals. Based on ingredients that have been well characterized scientifically and shown to be capable of promoting healthy lifestyle interests such as enhancing energy, cognition, mood, sleep, weight management, fitness, and aesthetics, the MedPodium line is now a key part of Cardium’s marketing presence. In addition, Cardium has just acquired a privately-held California company that has a popular line of energy and nutritional products, called To Go Brands.

Cardium isn’t alone. For an increasing number of pharmaceutical companies, the advantage of nutraceuticals has been impossible to ignore. With the National Business Journal reporting that the market for dietary supplements is growing at close to 7 percent annually, now generating sales of over $30 billion, and without the costs and headaches of drug development, big-name pharmaceutical companies are taking the industry more seriously than ever before, making smaller companies key takeover targets.